knickscity wrote:I dont think the team views Shumpert as a forward, as they've stated the backcourt is overcrowded.

The enforcer pf type is already on the roster and just needs to be healthy.....Jason Smith.

What are the odds Smith stays healthy for 80 games probably 15/100 same thing as two years ago. Thats why I dont get why we didnt draft Cory Jefferson with EITHER or two very late picks. He's exactly what Phil couldve used a 6-9 220 PF who can hit that mid range game run block shots--I sid it last year that I thought he was a close version of a Amare but with defensive tools. With 51 and 57 what were we thinking when looking at the roster. With bargs Smith and Amare they are held together with glue. Our season could change quickly. We need more depth upfront--much more so than SF I guess they were trying to get Moreland but now Id go after Cooley hed be cheap and he can play, he just needs a chance. Were nopt getting Marion and then the PFs are retreads--why not Cooley hes a pure 4 and he really looks like a version of D lee

BRIGGS wrote:

knickscity wrote:I dont think the team views Shumpert as a forward, as they've stated the backcourt is overcrowded.

The enforcer pf type is already on the roster and just needs to be healthy.....Jason Smith.

What are the odds Smith stays healthy for 80 games probably 15/100 same thing as two years ago. Thats why I dont get why we didnt draft Cory Jefferson with EITHER or two very late picks. He's exactly what Phil couldve used a 6-9 220 PF who can hit that mid range game run block shots--I sid it last year that I thought he was a close version of a Amare but with defensive tools. With 51 and 57 what were we thinking when looking at the roster. With bargs Smith and Amare they are held together with glue. Our season could change quickly. We need more depth upfront--much more so than SF I guess they were trying to get Moreland but now Id go after Cooley hed be cheap and he can play, he just needs a chance. Were nopt getting Marion and then the PFs are retreads--why not Cooley hes a pure 4 and he really looks like a version of D lee

But I do think Phil wanted in that position someone with experience of which Jefferson has none, and there's no way to tell if his skills do translate to the NBA.

Smith's injuries seem to happen based on how he plays, phsyical but somewhat reckless, but I do think his injury wont prevent him from being reasonably healthy....being healthy for 80 games is hard even for the best players on a team much less for a mjor signing.

He'd be perfect -- 6'10" 260, big and plays big (this dude's a load in the paint), decent offensive skills that could be honed into something much better, he rebounds and he's a legit shot-blocking presence. Good passer too...There's still very good upside here. What's not to like? I really believe this current roster needs another big man more than anything else. Jeremy Tyler's not the answer...And why take on a washed up Kenyon Martin?!? Take a shot on a big man with even better size, skills (2-way skills) and upside...If we grabbed this guy cheap we'd be adding very good depth at 2 positions: PF & C. This guy's never really gotten a chance -- didn't really play in college that one year and he's never really gotten a good run in the pros anywhere. Then he got hurt, gained some weight, etc.. Mixed results in the DL last year---FG% should've been higher but you gotta factor in rust and the fact that he was trying to incorporate more range on the jumper---yet he still put up over 11/7/over 2 blks per in under 25 mins a night. At the very least, if we got this guy going right and in proper shape (he definitely looked more toned a few years ago, coming out of HS/at Kentucky etc. -- no question he could get back there), we'd be adding another Cole Aldrich only with much better potential on the offensive end. Best case -- who knows? A young Kendrick Perkins with better offensive skills? Al Jefferson with legit rim protection? I'd take a shot...Nothing, absolutely NOTHING to lose here...Everything to gain. If there are no bigger moves forthcoming, I say cut Tyler, add Orton in his place, look for a better backup PG over Prigioni and maybe look to consolidate out on the wing somehow (maybe Thanasis does go to Europe like we heard; maybe a 2 for 1 trade or a trade for a future draft pick if something made sense, etc.). Gimmie those couple of tweaks, and I'm ready to start the season. I see Daniel Orton as a guy that's more than capable of filling in if any of our big men (PFs or Cs) ever went down: